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Bahutule also briefly served as the bowling coach for the India National Cricket Team right after the T20 World Cup 2024, filling a temporary gap created by the delayed appointment of Morne Morkel.
Sairaj Bahutule (Credit: BCCI)
Former India cricketer Sairaj Bahutule is set to join Rajasthan Royals as a spin bowling coach ahead of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bahutule, who had a stint with RR from 2018-21, had quit his position at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which is now being called Centre of Excellence, in Bengaluru.
“Yes, I have quit the COE due to personal/family reasons. I am thankful to former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, BCCI, Rahul Dravid (previous head of COE) and VVS (current head of COE) for giving me the opportunity to work with India’s top spinners across formats,” Bahutule told TOI from Bengaluru.
He will be working alongside bowling coach Shane Bond of New Zealand and head coach Rahul Dravid. He had previously worked with Dravid when the latter was in-charge of the Indian team.
“The discussions are ongoing, and I’m close to finalising my involvement with the franchise. There are still a few details to be worked out, but I’m excited to be realigning with the Royals,” Bahutule told Cricbuzz.
The 51-year-old former Mumbai cricketer, who played in two Tests and eight ODIs for India during his six-year-long international career, has been serving as bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for the last three years and, on a number of occasions in the past, has served as bowling coach with former head coach Rahul Dravid and NCA head VVS Laxman.
Bahutule also briefly served as the bowling coach for the India National Cricket Team right after the T20 World Cup 2024, filling a temporary gap created by the delayed appointment of Morne Morkel.
“I’m also thrilled to be reuniting with Rahul. He was the one who introduced me to the Indian team during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in 2023 when I served as the spin bowling coach. I was also part of his coaching staff in Sri Lanka, so I’m looking forward to our reunion.”
The 52-year-old has played two Tests and 8 ODIs for India.
The former Mumbai spinner focused on grassroots development, providing valuable guidance and support to numerous young players at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
(with agency inputs)
